Putting yourself in a regulator's shoes - Watze de Wolf

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Watze de Wolf.  Watze has had a long and accomplished career working as a scientist and manager in both industry and regulatory settings, including 15 years working at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). We have a wide-ranging discussion about his experiences and observations of how chemicals management has evolved over recent decades, and attempt to provide a diagnosis for the current situation and outlook for the years ahead.  This includes:Watze’s background, career journey and people he worked withThe tension between the uncertainty and complexity of science vs the need for clear and predictable regulationThe importance of communication and meeting your audience where they areContrasting sensitivities and drivers of behaviour in different industriesThe shift away from risk-based approaches, and the rise of persistenceThe importance of dialogue and the value of organisations like the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)Understanding EU regulations as complex systems Experiences with REACH dossiers, from both industry and regulator perspectivesWhat it’s like for early career scientists at ECHADiscussions and experiences from the ECHA Member State CommitteeThoughts on the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR)What a new harmonised classification of ethanol means for its ongoing use as a disinfectantThe essential use concept and how it could re-define chemicals management in EuropeImportance of EU Member State participation, and the impact of Brexit on regulatory discussionsRegrettable restrictions and thoughts on the ongoing group-wide restriction of PFASThoughts on the overall direction of travel, broader technological and societal shifts, and the impact on science Watze's website: rMSC.fi – rMSCMember State Committee - ECHATrifluoroacetic Acid in the Environment: Consensus, Gaps, and Next Steps | Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry | Oxford AcademicPersistence Science Interest Group Pushes Forward with Global Collaboration and New InitiativesLiterature review on micro‐ and nanoplastic release from food contact materials during their use | EFSAReflecting on 40 years of regulatory developments in Europe – Peter Fisk — Embark Chemical ConsultingVisit my website for more content and insights www.embarkchemical.com